Agronomy & Livelihoods Officer

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.  Plan has gained vast experience since 1937 when it was established, and it works in more than 75 countries across the world.  We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters, partners and host governments. Our work supports marginalised children and youth, especially adolescent girls, to grow up physically and mentally healthy and ready to shape their future.  We create an enabling environment and empower girls to be active drivers of change in realising their rights.  Plan International has been working in Malawi since 1994 in 14 districts, and its current strategy aims to reach 3.5 million adolescent girls and young women between 2022-2027 through different interventions.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Agronomist and livelihood Officer will be in charge of facilitating market actors to support adoption of Climate Smart technologies to smallholder producers in the impact area. She/he will be responsible for facilitating different value chains production and related interventions including adoption of Good agronomic Practices and Solutions.

DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Working with smallholder Producer Groups in the project areas to facilitate adoption of Climate Smart solutions for improved value chain production and post-harvest management.
• Facilitating market actors to provide on farm demonstrations and promotion of Good Agronomic Practices (GAPs) tailored to improved value chain production.
• Coordinating field activities that involve public and private extension officers that focus on improved value chain production.
• Coordinate inputs supply chains and managing extension services delivery systems by working with the identified inputs market actors
• Ensuring public and private agriculture extension services are accessible by smallholder’s producers in the affordable packages.
• Brokering relationships among various market actors including Inputs suppliers/agro dealers and help them to tap opportunities available for investing with Smallholder farmers in different value chains production.
• Taking lead in documenting cases for changes occurring in the production level of value chain
• Developing inventory of all project supported smallholder producers in all project villages for the aim of tracking and documenting changes in their production activities.
• Facilitating access to markets and extension information for smallholder producers through farmer friendly ICT platforms.
• Mapping all value chains fields allocated for production by the project target farmers.
• Coordinating value chain related demonstrations, farmer field days, agri-technology demonstrations and seasonal opening session in the targeted areas basing on the demand and feasibility.
• Reporting and documenting project implementation status on monthly and quarterly basis

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Extension and Agronomy.
• At least 2 years of work experience in agricultural production with at least 1 year in supporting farmers to increase crop productivity. Experience in different value chains production will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Agriculture sector, particularly participation of Smallholders farmers in the crops production and marketing.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders including Government institutions and Regional and Local levels; private sector, Agri-inputs suppliers, research institutions and Producers groups /Market Associations.
• Practical knowledge on agronomy and agriculture extension
• Demonstrated experience on preparing documentation and reporting

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Location: Mzuzu Programme Area

Type of Role: Fixed Term 

Reports to: Project Manager

Grade:  Level 13

Closing Date: 30 May 2024